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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Bali

7 replies

BlanketRose · 30/08/2025 17:41

Can anyone tell me about Bali please? We’re considering it for next summer. Is the travelling there worth it?!

Is it easy to get around once you’re there?

any advice welcome. Thank you!

OP posts:
BadActingParsley · 30/08/2025 18:16

Bit of an Australian Blackpool by all reports.

user0177561 · 30/08/2025 19:56

We did it last summer - myself, my partner and children who were at the time 12, 9, 6 and 2. We split our flights by adding a stop in Dubai (fortunately my partners niece lives there so this was at minimal extra cost, if we didn’t have this option or have a toddler with us I probably would of gone straight through)
We stayed in Canggu, Ubud, Gili T and Nusa Lembongan.

We took boats to the islands - very rocky but never felt unsafe just not the best for anybody who suffers from travel sickness. We drove round mainland Bali which was admittedly a nightmare - traffic was horrendous around places like Canggu, you need to be prepared to give up days for travel days.

Canggu was ok - probably our least favourite as very busy, nothing really special there unless you have older children to make the most out of the beach clubs and nice restaurants. The kids surfed there which they loved however this is available all over the island.

Ubud was a lot better for us, the kids loved the monkey forrest and my eldest and I did the early morning hike up mount batur which was brilliant as we got a fantastic sunrise.

Gili Trawanagn was our favourite. Plenty of snorkelling and diving and being on the beach and in the ocean which our kids love. We did a boat trip to the other Gili islands as well. We got a lot of activity done throughout the day but felt so relaxed at the same time.

Nusa Lembagon we didn’t really do anything but stay in our resort style hotel and relaxed after our trip before coming home.

I would definitely recommend, our whole family really enjoyed it. It is a one time thing though, I don’t feel the need to go back where as Thailand - I would love to go back in a heart beat and explore more, I feel I have now done all of Bali.

Titasaducksarse · 30/08/2025 19:57

BadActingParsley · 30/08/2025 18:16

Bit of an Australian Blackpool by all reports.

Only in Kuta and Seminyak.

We touted but a highlight was the north of the island by Pemuteran. The snorkeling was out of this world as we were in a marine park and hence numbers restricted, unlike Nusa where I honestly thought someone was going to get mown down in the water.

There's lots to do with temples, rice fields, we did a cookery class etc. Ended up there 3 weeks....would I go back...no. We didn't go to Kuta etc...not our style. We also got done over by corrupt police whilst on our moped and had to drive them to get on our way. Also only place in 6 weeks in Asia we had a stomach bug.
Loads of rubbish wveywhere in the sea...plastics and Gillis particularly bad for this.
So a bit of a mixed holiday of amazing and not so much.

TeamGeriatric · 30/08/2025 20:37

I think Aussie Ibiza is more appropriate, and only in parts, it's definitely not much like Blackpool. Our kids were small when we went, we lived in Australia at the time, the youngest was just turned 1. We combined Bali with some time in Java, visiting Borobudur and Prambanan and other temples in the vicinity of Yogyakarta. In Bali we stayed in both Ubud (inland) and Sanur (coast). Lots to do around Ubud, had some good excursions. Sanur was fine, fairly typical Asian resort. I probably would go back, but as you say it's quite a trek from the UK. We flew KLM Amsterdam to Singapore at the start of the summer holidays, the plane then went on from Singapore to Denpasar if that info is of any interest to you.

Titasaducksarse · 30/08/2025 21:14

TeamGeriatric · 30/08/2025 20:37

I think Aussie Ibiza is more appropriate, and only in parts, it's definitely not much like Blackpool. Our kids were small when we went, we lived in Australia at the time, the youngest was just turned 1. We combined Bali with some time in Java, visiting Borobudur and Prambanan and other temples in the vicinity of Yogyakarta. In Bali we stayed in both Ubud (inland) and Sanur (coast). Lots to do around Ubud, had some good excursions. Sanur was fine, fairly typical Asian resort. I probably would go back, but as you say it's quite a trek from the UK. We flew KLM Amsterdam to Singapore at the start of the summer holidays, the plane then went on from Singapore to Denpasar if that info is of any interest to you.

We did the temples in Java too. I'd like to do more there.

PurBal · 31/08/2025 15:00

BadActingParsley · 30/08/2025 18:16

Bit of an Australian Blackpool by all reports.

I was going to say Newquay, but yeah, this. I know people who love it though.

vinegarforeverything · 31/08/2025 15:02

It was wonderful 35 years ago when I was there first. I returned 25 years ago and hated it.

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